Automatic signaling device for automobiles

ABSTRACT

The device automatically actuates the vehicle emergency lights when the brake pedal and one of the turn signals are simultaneously used. To do so it uses an integrated circuit that actuates a periodic pulsating signal in its outputs when a continuous signal is received in its inputs that comes from the brake pedal switch, and, at the same time, a pulsating signal from one of the turn signals. The device is especially indicated for warning that a dangerous maneuver with left or right turns is going to be performed on two-way highways, for example.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention refers to an automatic signaling device forautomobiles, which provides essential novelty features and significantadvantages regarding the means, which are known and used for similarpurposes in the current state of the art.

[0002] More specifically, the invention develops a device by means ofwhich it is possible for the driver of a vehicle to carry out a completesignaling indication when he is going to perform a left turn, indicatingto the other drivers circulating on the same road, to prevent confusionor errors that may give way to inopportune and unwanted accidents. Thewarning indications are carried out with the light elements incorporatedby the vehicle itself.

[0003] The field of application of the present invention is comprisedwithin the industrial sector dedicated to manufacturing and/orinstalling auxiliary elements for the automotive industry in general,and more specifically signaling and safety devices for automotivevehicles.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is generally well known by everyone that many collisions andaccidents occurring daily are caused either by poor signaling by thedrivers or by an erroneous interpretation, distraction or lack of visionof other drivers and/or pedestrians.

[0005] Specifically, an especially dangerous maneuver, especially onby-ways and local highways where there is only one lane for eachdirection of travel, and which are also performed daily by a greatnumber of drivers, consists of making a turn towards the left on a roadof this type from the central part or median of said highway. In thisparticular case, what the driver does is indicate that he is going tomake a turn by means of the turn signal, and furthermore, he needs tostep on the brake pedal to reduce speed, a consequence of which is thatthe rear brake light lights up.

[0006] However, said situation may lead to states of confusion for boththe driver coming from straight ahead and for the driver following him,as explained below:

[0007] The driver behind he who is going to perform said maneuver mayinterpret that the driver is going to pass someone upon seeing the turnsignal, he therefore does not reduce his speed, which can evidently leadto a situation in which a collision occurs. Furthermore, the brake lighthas a greater intensity than the turn signal, which on occasions maycause the latter not to be seen, such that the driver from behind doesnot know how to interpret that the preceding vehicle is going to performthe turn maneuver.

[0008] On the other hand, the driver coming from straight ahead to whomthe turn is indicated only sees the turn signal light, he may thereforebecome disoriented by not knowing if the maneuver is going to consist ofpassing or making a turn, which may cause unforeseen reactions.

[0009] A possible solution to signal this type of maneuver consists of,in addition to actuating the turn signal and stepping on the brake,actuating the emergency indicator at time intervals, the purpose ofwhich is to warn that an abrupt stop or halt is going to be carried out.In this manner, both the driver from behind and the driver coming fromstraight ahead are capable of interpreting the intentions of the driverof the vehicle turning to the left.

[0010] However, the solution provided is not completely safe, since thedriver must release the steering wheel to manually actuate both the turnsignal and the emergency lights, and he must even distract his view fromthe road in a situation when it is not recommendable to do so.

[0011] As a result of all that has been previously explained, and forthe purpose of preventing, as much as possible, the high number oftraffic accidents occurring for the reasons explained, among others, thepresent invention proposes an automatic signaling device for all typesof automobiles on the market, which permits unmistakably warning of theneed to perform turning maneuvers which imply a certain risk, withoutthe need to remove the hands from the steering wheel.

[0012] Basically, the signaling device consists of automaticallyactuating the emergency lights when it coincides that a turn signal andthe brake are being simultaneously used.

[0013] In order to carry this out, the device of the present inventionproposes the design of a control unit, fed by the car battery, which hasthree inputs and multiple outputs.

[0014] The basic functioning consists of when the control unit detectstwo signals in two of its inputs, a continuous and another alternatingor pulsating, for example a square signal simultaneously for adetermined period of time, it generates a signal sequence of identicalduration in its outputs during another determined time, after which timeit checks if the inputs are still active, identically repeating thesequence in the affirmative case.

[0015] In this manner, it is enough to duly connect the signals, whichare generated when the driver of the vehicle actuates a turn signal andsteps on the brake to the corresponding inputs in the control unit, andto connect its outputs to the device generating the emergency signal inquestion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] These and other features and advantages of the invention willbecome more clearly evident from the detailed description that followsof a preferred embodiment of the invention, given only as anillustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the attacheddrawings, wherein:

[0017]FIG. 1 shows an electric scheme of the automatic signaling devicefor vehicles.

[0018]FIG. 2 shows the diagrams of the times of the electric signalsintervening in the signaling device in the previous figure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0019] In order to carry out the detailed description that follows ofthe preferred embodiment of the present invention, permanent referencewill be made to the figures in the drawings, through which the samenumerical references have been used for the equal or similar parts.Thus, first considering FIG. 1, the automatic signaling device forautomobiles consists of a preferably integrated type control unit (1)fed by the battery of the automotive vehicle through a protection device(2) of the unit, such as a limiting resistance or another suitablemeans, which provides the suitable working voltage, said control unit(1) having a number of input connections, preferably three inputs (3-5),and a plurality of output connections, preferably the outputs indicatedby means of the references (6-15).

[0020] In said unit, two inputs (3,4) have been connected to respectivedevices susceptible to feeding each one of them a continuous signal whenthey are actuated, at a voltage level that is preferably comprisedbetween 6 and 24 volts (or any other voltage that could be posed on thefuture), whereas the third input (5) has been connected to a device suchthat, when it is active, it provides a pulsating signal, preferable asquare wave, whose maximum voltage value is also comprised between 6 and24 volts (or another suitable voltage).

[0021] In this manner, when the control unit (1) detects that acontinuous signal input and the input receiving said square signal areboth simultaneously active and for a predetermined time (t1), itgenerates a sequence of signals of identical duration (t2) in itsoutputs (6-15) for another predetermined time (t3), such as graphicallyshown in FIG. 2.

[0022] Once the time (t3) has lapsed corresponding to the duration ofthe output sequence, the control unit (1) checks if the inputs (3, 5) or(4, 5) are still active, and the sequence is cyclically repeatedwhenever the condition that one be continuous and the other square iscomplied with.

[0023] All said times (t1, t2, t3) can be varied, depending on the needsof the driver or the manufacturer, by means of potentiometers or otherregulation and adjustment devices.

[0024] Lastly, said outputs (5-16) of the control unit are connected tothe vehicle devices actuating the different emergency lights, by meansof either a direct connection or through other feeding devices.

[0025] It is not considered necessary to further extend the content ofthis description so that a skilled person in the art can understand itsscope and the advantages derived from the invention, as well as todevelop and carry out the object thereof.

[0026] Nonetheless, it should be understood that the invention has beendescribed according to a preferred embodiment thereof, it may thereforebe susceptible to amendments without this at all affecting thefunctioning of said invention, such amendments being possible toparticularly affect the shape, size and/or materials used.

1. Automatic signaling device for automobiles, intended to actuate thedifferent emergency indicators of a vehicle when determined conditionsare complied with that are associated with situations that may representa potential danger for the driver of the vehicle and for other vehiclescirculating at that time in the same area, such as when a turn to theleft is made on two-way roads, characterized in that the device isimplemented as from an integrated type control unit (1) fed by thecontinuous voltage of the vehicle itself, said control unit having threeinputs (3, 4, 5) and a plurality of outputs (6 to 15), said inputs (3 to5) being intended for receiving both continuous and pulsating (squarewave) signals, for actuating the control unit, and the outputs (6 to 15)being susceptible to being connected to the different emergencyindicator devices incorporated by the vehicle.
 2. Device according toclaim 1, characterized in that two inputs (3,4) receive continuous levelsignals, whereas the other input (5) receives a pulsating, square wavesignal, these input signals being generated with conventional devicesseparated from said control unit (1), and such that the response of theunit through said outputs (6 to 15) occurs when a continuous signal isfed through the corresponding inputs (3, 4), simultaneously with thepulsating signal through the respective input (5).
 3. Device accordingto claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the outputs (6 to 15) areactive according to predetermined time intervals (t₂), as a wholeconstituting a repetitive sequence of a pre-established duration (t₃).